Abdominal supporting appliance



i April 4, 1944. LUNNEY 2,345,760

ABDOMINAL SUPPORT ING APPLIANCE Filed Feb. 14, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l j-JLZ fiemy Jlzmng April 4, 1944. UN Y 2,345,750

v ABDOMINAL SUPPORTING APPLIANCE Filed Feb. 14, 1941 2 Sheets-Shae} 2 Y java Z72 4;

, mmx wn arwmbcyo Patented Apr. 4, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ABDOMINAL SUPPORTING APPLIANCE Sna ga d Application February 14, 1.941, Serial No. 378,898

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvement in abdominal supporting garments or appliances of the prenatal or maternity type such as shown in my United States Letters Patent No. 2,166,312, issued July 18, 1939, and in my co-pending application for United States Letters Patent, serial Number 284,909, filed ,July '17, 1989. The supporters or appliances shown in the aforesaid patent and patent application are characterized by an abdomen supporting cup and supporting means therefor which are constructed, arranged and combined to provide a lifting ac ion on .the cup whereby to produce the correct posture, pre vent sagging or bulging of the abdomen and re.- lieve pelvic pressure.

The cup shown in my aforesaid patent is inelastic and supported by means of a body encircling belt and shoulder straps and is held in place by crotch straps passing rearwardly around the thighs, between the legs and fastened .to the lower front portion of the cup.

The cup shown in my aforesaid coepending application is also inelastic and supported by means of an elastic back member which overlies the back and thighs and extends above the waist line, and straps extending from the top 01 the back member over the shoulders to the cup, also straps extending downwardly from side extensions of the back member to said cup. A .crotch piece is connected with the back member and the lower part of the cup to hold the cup in place. In this supporter as well as in the .sup-. porter of the patent, the cup is fixed to the supporting elements and cannot be removed from the back and straps in the one case and the belt and strap in the other. Moreover the elasticity provisions in these appliances are negligible being present in the back in the one case but not in the cups in either case, nor effective in such manner as to afford the desired elastic supporting action and at the same time permit of such yielding as to insure comfort and the retention of the appliance in the proper positions regardless of the pos u n ovements of e wea e One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a maternity support of the character desc ibe wher in the cup is d tac able tone mit ,Of replacement thereof or ,of the supporting means therefor when desired without necessitat, ing that a whole new garment be purchased, and toalso make it possible to substitute cups or ab.- om supportin e eme ts of sp c a fo m, such as one designed for postepartum wear or om designed for correcting obesity or postroperative or weakened or other abnormal conditions abdomen.

Another object of my invention is to provide an especially designed abdomen supporting cup wherein a wide elastic panel comprising the front thereof is capable of yieldinghorizontallyor laterally only to allow the cup to comfortably conform to any abdominal shape, while at the same time aifording the correct supporting action.

Another object is to provide in a supporter such as described, a novel back member comprising an outer or body piece of elastic material capable of stretching vertically and horizontally and diagonally and adapted to extend from the waist line downwardly over the back and partly over the upper portions of the thighs; and an elastic band disposed as a lining for the "body piece and adapted to embrace the small of the back. This band is adapted to yield horizontally or longitudinally thereof and is secured at its ends to the thigh embracing portions of the body piece. At its forward edges the body piece is provided with elastic gussets adapted to yield horizontally and provided with means for detachably connecting the cup thereto whereby said back member supports and tends to lift the cup due to the elastic body piece and band which latter also efie'ct a bracing action against the back and also allows freedom of movement of the thighs. The body piece allows for a concave-convex form of the back member and a smooth conformity of the back member to the back of the wearer, while the band gives maximum support and comfort as to the lumbar and sacroiliac regions of the back. These elastic portions of the back member also permit of a yielding and close conformity of the cup as they tend to urge the cup inwardly and somewhat upwardly.

A further object of my invention is to provide in a supporter such as described a novel means for detachably and adjustably connecting the cup with the elastic gussets on the back member, said means including quickly operable fastenings so that the garment may be readily and easily put on and taken off.

Another object is to provide a novel form of adjustable pulley or loop straps detachably connected tothe cup and fixed tothe back member and affording a sliding and automatically compensating connection of the shoulder straps and the cup and back members so that cup and back will be effectively maintained in the desired position regardless of the posture and movements of the wearer. j

Another object is to provide a novel shoulder of the posed in particular manner to promote comfort and afford a quick thrusting or movement of the crotch piece proper to one side or out of the crotch.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention is carried into effect as illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an abdominal supporter embodying my invention and particularly showing the front and a side thereof:

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the supporter:

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the cup member:

Fig; 4 is a perspective view of the supporter particularly showing the side thereof opposite the side shown in Fig. 1, and the arrangement of the back of the supporter:

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of a modified form of my appliance, showing how a post-partum abdominal supporting cup may be substituted for the maternity cupjand the shoulder straps dispensed with:

Fig. 6 is "an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view showing the manner of detachably connecting the back member and the cup and the lacing 'means' for taking up and letting out or adjusting the cup, also showing how the loop or pulley straps and the crotch piece straps are removably hooked to the cup and back member re spectively.

Referring to the drawings more specifically, it is seen that one embodiment of the abdominal supporter of my invention generally comprises an abdomen supporting cup 6, a back member I to which the cup is detachably connected, a crotch piece 8 detachably connected with the cup and back member, and partly elastic shoulder straps 9 which may be permanently or otherwise fixed to the back member but are detachably and adjustably connected with the cup by means of loop or pulley straps l0 fixed on the back member and detachably connected with the cup.

The abdomen supporting cup 6 comprises a. U- shaped body piece I I of suitable and preferably of elastic cloth; the closed end 'of said body piece being arranged to extend adjacent the crotch of the wearer and having the inner margins of its side portions converging to a point contiguous but spaced from the lower margin of the body portion. An elastic panel or web portion I2 is stitched as at l3 to the inner margins of the body piece and thereby forming the front central part of the cup and affording a horizontal yielding of the cup whereby it will best conform to the abdomen under changing conditions during pregnancy and insure an effective supporting action at all times without requiring adjustment except as pregnancy advances or when it proves uncomfortable to the wearer. The elastic panel permits the cup to assume the desired concave form without wrinkling or producing uneven bulges or interfering with the desired supporting action, the elasticity more particularly enhancing the effect and action of the cup at all times rather than detracting from the desired effect and action. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3 darts 1'4 may be formed in the body piece H to permit of enlargement thereof when necessary.

To provide detachably securing the crotch piece 8 to the cup, the lower end of the body piece H is provided with snap fasteners 15 for co-operation with companion snap fasteners 15 on the front end of the crotch piece.

Along the opposite side edges of the body piece II are rows of eyelets l5 and IT. The eyelets IB receive a lace l8 which is threaded through eyelet [9 in an attaching strip 20. A row of hooks 2| on thestrip 2B are adapted to be engaged with eyes 22 carried by the back member 1 whereby to detachabl'y connect the cup to the back member to facilitate putting on and removing the garment. The lacing connection of the strip 20 with the cup permits of letting out or taking in the cup to suit the wearer.

The eyelets I! on the other side of the cup receive a lace 23 which is threaded through companion eyelets 26 on the back member I to detachably and also adjustably secure the cup to the back member. p

Also provided on the body piece H of the cup are fiat hooks 25 for detachably connectin the loop or pulley forming straps H] to the cup. Flaps 25 are secured to the inner side of the body piece I I to lie under the joint members effecting the connection of the cup and back member to prevent discomfort to the wearer. Light stiifene ing or whalebone members 2'! shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3 may be used in the body piece ll adjacent the rows of eyelets l6 and I! to provide for smooth joints between the cup and back member.

The back member 7 includes a body piece 28 of elastic material of a size such that it will cover the. lower back and thighs of the wearer without extending above the waist line or forwardly past the groin, said body piece being elongated and smaller at its ends 29 which latter portions overlie the thighs. The elastic material of which isfformed the body piece 28 of the back member 1, is so made as to stretch in two directions, viz, vertically and horizontally whereby the back member may conform properly and lie smoothly and comfortably over the small of the back and adjacent thigh portions.

A wide elastic band 3!], for example, 'six inches wide, lines the body piece 28 and is stitched at its ends to corresponding ends of said body piece although it is not necessarily as wide as the back member as a Whole. The elastic band 30 is adapted to stretch horizontally only and therefor affords an effective yet comfortable yieldable support for the sacroiliac and lumbar regions while at the same time co-operating with the elastic body piece to effectively support and lift 1113- wardly on the cup 6. Hose supporters 31 may be arranged so as to depend from the body piece 28 of the back member to lie along the sides and back and the legs of the wearer.

Triangular elastic gussets 32 and 33 ar stitched as at 34 to the ends 29 of the body member 28 and also the ends of the elastic band 30. The gusset 32 carries the eyes 22 whereas the gusset 33 carries the eyelets 24 and both gussets are adapted to yield horizontally and somewhat arcuately upwardly due to the wider portions thereof being lowermost. Thus the yielding of the gussets as the results of a pull communicated by the back member or by the cup or both will tend to lift the cup and the latter and back will more readily adapt themselves to changing conditions during pregnancy without adjustment.

The shoulder straps 9 are fixed as at 35 to the upper portions of the ends 29 of the body piece of back member 1 as shown in Figs. '1, 2 and 4, and are crossed and extend over the shoulders to the straps Hi. The free ends of the shoulder straps 9 are formed with adjustable loops 36, through which the straps 10 are inserted. Straps I 0 are fixed as at 31 to th end portions 29 adjacent the fixed ends 35 of the shoulder straps and are formed at their free ends with adjustable loops 38 adapted to be detachably engaged with the hooks 25 on the cup 6. Thus the straps 9 and 10 are slidably connected, the loop straps I 0 serving as flexible pulleys or rings on which the loop ends of the shoulder straps are slidable to compensate for different postures and movements of the wearer and to insure the retention in proper position and the lifting of the cup at all times.

By having the ends of the shoulder straps partly elastic and connected as hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings the pull or supporting action of these straps effects a direct upward lift on the cup as is desirable and most effective in a maternity or abdominal supporter.

In order to make the crotch piece 8 entirely removable from the back member and the cup, the rear end of the crotch piece is provided with elastic straps 40 which have adjustable loops 4| at their free ends adapted to be detachably engaged with flat hooks 42 carried on the ends 29 of the body piece 28 of the back member. The straps 40 are adapted to extend upwardly around the buttock as shown in Fig. 4 and afford a ready displacement of the crotch piece out of th crotch when desired.

With reference to Fig. 5 it is seen that a modified form of my supporter takes into consideration the use of a back member 45 identical with the back member 1 except for the absence of shoulder straps; a detachable crotch piece 46 identical with crotch piece 8 and a similar abdomen cup 41. In this form the abdomen cup is inelastic but could be elastic and adapted for post-partum, post surgery or other corrective uses relating to abnormal abdominal conditions, however, it is secured to the back by the same means as cup 6. This form illustrates how readily the maternity garment can be adapted for postpartum or post-surgery or other uses. If the removal of shoulder straps is not desired, the conversion is readily made by substituting the desired form of cup for the maternity or other cup previously attached to the back member.

In all forms of my invention the removal of the cup is easily effected by detaching the front end of the crotch piece 8 from the lower front of the cup, unhooking the hooks 2|, removing the lace 23 from eyelets l1 and 24, then unhooking the loop straps II! from hooks 25 to free the straps from connection with the cup and thereby free the cup.

It will now be seen that the supporter of my invention constitutes a noteworthy improvement in the art in that it makes it unnecessary to extend the back member above the waist line or employ a waist line encircling belt or the like or material at any points of the body other than those requiring pro-natal support. Moreover the particular distribution of elastic and inelastic portions of the supporter provide for yielding and give where needed to insure comfort and proper retention of the supporter in place with-- out lessening the supporting action, and also make it unnecessary to make frequent adjustments. The front or the rear portions of the shoulder strap are preferably elastic although these straps could be elastic throughout or as to any portion thereof.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention I do not limit myself to the exact details of construction set forth, and the invention embraces such changes, modiiications and equivalents of the parts and their formation and arrangement as come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an abdominal supporter, a flexible abdominal supporting cup, a back member for overlying the back of the wearer without encircling the body of the wearer, means for detachably connecting the cup with the back member, shoulder straps connected with the back member, adjustable loops detachably connected with the cup and fixed to the back member, said straps being slidable on the loops, and a crotch member detachably connected with the cup and back member for holding the cup and back member against upward displacement from predetermined positions, said means for detachably connecting the cup and back member including gussets fixed to the back member and detachably connected with the cup.

2. In an abdominal supporter, a flexible addominal supporting cup, a back member for overlying the back of the wearer without encircling the body of the wearer, means for detachably connecting the cup with the back member, elastic shoulder straps connected with the back memher, and detachably connected with the cup, and a crotch member detachably connected with the cup, and back member for holding the cup and back member against upward displacement from predetermined positions, said back member comprising a body piece of elastic material which will yield longitudinally and transversely of the body of the wearer, and an elastic band lining said body piece and limited to stretching transversely of the body of the wearer, said cup having an elastic panel in the front central portion and an inelastic body, and elastic gussets interposed between the back member and cup and forming a part of the means for detachably connecting the cup with the back member.

3. In an abdominal supporter, an abdomen supporting cup comprising a U-shaped body piece, and an elastic panel secured to the inner margins of and closing said body piece so as to form the front central portion of the cup, and means for detachably supporting and retaining said cup in abdomen supporting position, the closed end of said U-shaped body piece arranged to extend adjacent the crotch of the wearer and having the inner margins of its side portions converging to a point contiguous to'but spaced from the lower margin of said body portion.

4. In an abdominal supporter, a flexible addomen supporting cup, a back member for overlying the back of the wearer having portions for overlying the buttocks of the wearer, gussets fixed to and extending forwardly from said portions, a lacing connection between one of said gussets and one side of said cup for detachably connecting the cup to the back member, an attaching strip, a lacing connection between said strip and the other side of said cup for detachably and adjustab-ly connecting one side of the cup and strip, fastening elements on said strip, and fastening elements on the other gusset for co-operation with the fastening elements on said strip to detachably connect the other side of cup with the said back member. 1

5. In an abdominal supporter, an abdomen supporting cup, a back member adapted-to overlie the back of the wearer, means for detachably connecting the cup with the back member, shoulder straps fixed to the back member adjacent the points thereon where the back member is connected to the cup and adapted to extend over the shoulders and lie in front of the wearer, straps fixed to the back member and detachably connected with the cup for forming connecting loops by means of which the shoulder straps are adjustably connected with the cup and back member.

6. In an abdomen supporting appliance, an abdomen supporting cup, a back member adapted to embrace the back of the wearer, means for joining said cup with said back member, flexible straps spanning the joints between and forming loops connected with the back member and cup, and shoulder straps having portions threaded through and slidable on said loops and other portions secured to said back member.

' HENRY J. LUNNEY. 

